The cast of Outlander shared some of their most memorable moments from the series at San Diego Comic-Con, and Sam Heughan’s answer has me both giddy and terrified for season 8. ScreenRant was present for the SDCC Outlander panel, which, given the impending end to the Starz TV show, might well have been the last that this cast will attend. Naturally, this made it all the more bittersweet.
Among the Outlander stars at SDCC were Richard Rankin (Roger MacKenzie), Sophie Skelton (Brianna Randall Fraser MacKenzie), and Heughan (Jamie Fraser), all of whom talked about their experiences and memories working on the Romantacy series. Additionally, we got our first trailer for Outlander season 8, which provided some fresh teases for this final installment.
The trailer for Outlander season 8 is taken up largely by scenes from past episodes, emphasizing the fact that the series will bring things full circle. Then, in the teaser’s final moments, we see the big reveal that Jamie’s death had been recorded in Frank Randall’s book, which Brianna brought from the future. It’s an intriguing tease, and, combined with a comment from Heughan, a bit of a frightening one.
Sam Heughan Teases That Jamie Will Be Even More Vulnerable In Outlander Season 8
This Outlander Actor Remembers Jamie’s Vulnerability The Most
At the SDCC’s Outlander panel, Heughan stated that he found Jamie’s vulnerability throughout the series to be one of the most memorable aspects of creating Outlander. He further explained that this is especially true for season 8, indicating that Jamie will be even more vulnerable in this upcoming final installment than in past episodes.
Jamie’s most vulnerable moments in Outlander have been deeply memorable for audiences as well, so the promise that there will be more of this in season 8 is certainly encouraging. It should mean some powerful performances from Heughan, which is precisely what we want for the show’s big ending. Of course, with what we know about the upcoming episodes, there should be plenty of opportunity.
Some of Heughan’s best performances in Outlander have come from Jamie’s vulnerability.
In the finale of season 7, Claire had come to believe that her daughter, Faith, had somehow survived. The infant’s stillbirth was a deeply tragic experience for Jamie and Claire, so revisiting this in season 8 is sure to result in some emotional and vulnerable moments. Then there is the trailer’s tease of Jamie’s impending death, which is guaranteed to set the inhabitants at Fraser’s Ridge on edge.
All of this, combined with Heughan’s “vulnerable” tease, indicates that the upcoming installment of Outlander will be stuffed full of emotionally weighty moments. This is an exciting prospect for Outlander fans. However, when considering some of Jamie’s most vulnerable moments in past seasons, it’s also a bit frightening.
Jamie Has Had Several Extremely Vulnerable Moments Already In Outlander
Can Season 8 Push This Character Any Further?
Some of Heughan’s best performances in Outlander have come from Jamie’s vulnerability. Naturally, our minds go immediately to the character’s past experiences with Black Jack Randall. However, nothing ever makes Jamie as vulnerable as when Claire is in danger. This happens frequently to varying degrees, but Outlander season 7 is a prime example.
When Claire was shot in the aftermath of the Battle of Monmouth in Outlander season 7, Heughan gave a powerful and entirely raw performance.
When Claire was shot in the aftermath of the Battle of Monmouth in Outlander season 7, Heughan gave a powerful and entirely raw performance. Jamie wasn’t just frightened and desperate, but full of rage regarding the circumstances that led to Claire’s injury. Covered in blood and screaming, Jamie begged that his wife be spared. It was hard to watch, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Heughan.
Even with all the personal pain that Jamie has suffered in Outlander, Claire’s brush with death was easily his most vulnerable moment in the series. Still, Heughan’s comment about season 8 implies that the coming installment will top everything that came before, ultimately setting up a completely devastating series conclusion.
Outlander Season 8 Is All Set Up To Be Completely Devastating
Get Ready To Have Your Heart Broken
To an extent, we know what to expect with Outlander season 8, since the teased Jamie story is a feature of Gabaldon’s books. In Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, Jamie and Claire get similar news when Brianna brings Frank’s book to the past. There’s every indication that Jamie Fraser will die at the Battle of King’s Mountain, just as Frank wrote.
I won’t spoil how this book story’s ending, but it’s certainly emotional (and vulnerable) for Jamie and Claire. However, this plotline isn’t the finale of Gabaldon’s book series. In fact, the novels have yet to come to a close, since the 10th and final Outlander book won’t release until long after season 8 wraps up Starz’s series. Naturally, things will have to go differently on screen than in the TV show.
The fact that Outlander has no choice but to take the story in a different direction than the books means that all bets are off for this final installment. For the first time, book fans don’t know how the story will end. All we can surely expect is a high-tension, high-excitement, and, likely, a completely emotionally devastating story in Outlander season 8. Said and done, audiences are sure to be just as vulnerable as Jamie.
Outlander
7/10
- Release Date
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August 9, 2014
- Showrunner
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Matthew B. Roberts
